Coins Grading Standards

PCGS

In 1948, Dr. William Sheldon established the Sheldon Scale to grade coins from 1 to 70 based on value. PCGS embraced this system in 1986 with encapsulated, third-party grading.

Uncirculated (PR/MS-60 to 70)

Perfect Uncirculated
(PR/MS-70)

Flawless with no imperfections visible under 5x magnification.

Gem Uncirculated (PR/MS-65 to 69)

Very minimal imperfections, with strong luster and eye appeal.

Choice Uncirculated
(PR/MS-63 to 64)

Average strike and luster, with some moderate marks or hairlines.

Uncirculated (PR/MS-60 to 62)

Weak strike, with numerous abrasions, hairlines, and marks.

About Uncirculated
(AU-50 to AU-58)

These coins show only slight wear or friction on the highest points of the design. They retain most of their original mint luster.

Extremely Fine
(XF-40 to XF-45)

The coin’s details are complete, but there is light wear on most of the high points.

Very Fine
(VF-20 to VF-35)

The coin has seen moderate circulation. Most of the design details are clear, but high points show wear.

Fine
(F-12 to F-15)

The coin shows considerable wear. Recessed areas may still show some detail, but main design is soft.

Good & Very Good
(G-4 to VG-10)

The design is worn but still visible. Rims may be worn, and letters and numbers may be soft.

Poor & Fair
(PO-1 to FR-2)

Only the date and type of the coin are identifiable due to heavy wear.

Ungradable
Ungradable

Date and mintmark of coin must be detectable to be graded.

Strike Types

Mint State (MS)

The numerical grades MS-60 through MS-70, used to denote a business strike coin that never has been in circulation. A MS coin can range from one that is covered with marks (MS-60) to a flawless example (MS-70).

Proof (PR)

A Proof coin is struck with specially prepared dies and planchetts, often with multiple blows for sharper detail. Produced at slower speeds and higher pressure, Proofs have finer detail than regular strikes. PCGS recognizes PR from 1817 onwards.

Specimen (SP)

Special Coins struck at the Mint from 1792-1816 that display many characteristics of the later Proof coinage. Prior to 1817, the minting equipment and technology was limited, so these coins do not have the “watery” surfaces of later Proofs nor the evenness of strike of the close collar Proofs.

No Grades

PCGS experts sometimes encounter coins that cannot be authenticated or graded. These coins labeled as 'No Grade' may or may not fit into a PCGS holder.

82 - Filed Rims (Holdered)

83 - Peeling Lamination (Not Holdered)

86 - Authenticity Unverifiable (Not Holdered)

90 - Counterfeit (Not Holdered)

91 - Questionable Color (Holdered)

92 - Cleaning (Holdered)

93 - Planchet Flaw (Holdered)

94 - Altered Surfaces (Holdered)

95 - Scratch(s) (Holdered)

96 - No Service (Not Holdered)

97 - Environmental Damage (Holdered)

98 - Damage (Holdered)

99 - PVC Residue (Not Holdered)

NGC Grading Scale

NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company™), an independent part of the Certified Collectibles Group™ (CCG), is a world-leading, third-party service for authenticating and grading coins. Collectors and dealers globally trust NGC because it provides accurate, consistent, and impartial coin assessment, backed by a comprehensive guarantee and a protective holder. NGC certification boosts buyer and seller confidence, leading to higher prices and greater liquidity. This is why NGC has graded over 60 million coins since it was founded in 1987.

Numeric Grades

MS/PF 70	A coin with no post-production imperfections at 5x magnification.
MS/PF 69	A fully struck coin with nearly imperceptible imperfections.
MS/PF 68	Very sharply struck with only minuscule imperfections.
MS/PF 67	Sharply struck with only a few imperfections.
MS/PF 66	Very well struck with minimal marks and hairlines.
MS/PF 65	Well struck with moderate marks or hairlines.
MS/PF 64	Average or better strike with several obvious marks or hairlines and other minuscule imperfections.
MS/PF 63	Slightly weak or average strike with moderate abrasions and hairlines of varying sizes.
MS/PF 62	Slightly weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More or larger abrasions than an MS/PF 63.
MS/PF 61	Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. More marks and/or multiple large abrasions.
MS/PF 60	Weak or average strike with no trace of wear. Numerous abrasions, hairlines and/or large marks.
AU 58	Slight wear on the highest points of the design. Full details.
AU 55	Slight wear on less than 50% of the design. Full details.
AU 53	Slight wear on more than 50% of the design. Full details except for very minor softness on the high points.
AU 50	Slight wear on more than 50% of the design. Full details except for minor softness on the high points.
AU 45	Complete details with minor wear on some of the high points.
AU 40	Complete details with minor wear on most of the high points.
AU 35	Complete details with wear on all of the high points.
AU 30	Nearly complete details with moderate softness on the design areas.
AU 25	Nearly complete details with more softness on the design areas.
AU 20	Moderate design detail with sharp letters and digits.
F 15	Recessed areas show slight softness. Letters and digits are sharp.
F 12	Recessed areas show more softness. Letters and digits are sharp.
VG 10	Wear throughout the design. Letters and digits show softness.
VG 8	Wear throughout the design. Letters and digits show more softness.
G 6	Peripheral letters and digits are full. Rims are sharp.
G 4	Peripheral letters and digits are nearly full. Rims exhibit wear.
AG 3	Most letters and digits are readable. Rims are worn into the fields.
FR 2	Some details are visible. Rims are barely visible.
PO 1	Enough detail to identify the coin’s date and type. Rims are flat or nearly flat.

Designations

RD	Red. Full mint red luster.
RB	Red Brown. A mix of red luster and brown patina.
BN	Brown. Full or nearly full brown patina.
Ultra Cameo	Applies only to PF coins. The fields are deeply mirrored and the devices are heavily frosted for bold contrast on both sides of the coin.
Cameo	Applies only to PF coins. The fields are deeply mirrored and the devices are frosted for moderate contrast on both sides of the coins.
DPL	Deep Prooflike. Applies only to circulation issues. The fields are deeply mirrored and the devices are heavily frosted on both sides.
PL	Prooflike. Applies only to circulation issues. The fields are mirrored and the devices may be frosted on both sides.
+ (NGC Plus Designation)	NGC assigns a (+) to coins at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the qualify requirements for the next grade.
★ (NGC Star Designation)	NGC assigns a Star Designation (★) to coins with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade.
Early Releases	NGC offers the Early Releases designation for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release.
First Releases	NGC offers the First Releases designation for selected coins received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository during the first 30 days of release.